Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments:

From the author of Cod — the illuminating story of an ancient and enigmatic people.

Straddling a small corner of Spain and France in a land that is marked on no maps except their own, the Basques are a puzzling contradiction — they are Europe's oldest nation without ever having been a country. No one has ever been able to determine their origins, and even the Basques' language, Euskera — the most ancient in Europe — is related to none other on earth. For centuries, their influence has been felt in nearly every realm, from religion to sports to commerce. Even today, the Basques are enjoying what may be the most important cultural renaissance in their long existence.

Mark Kurlansky's passion for the Basque people and his exuberant eye for detail shine throughout this fascinating book. Like Cod, The Basque History of the World blends human stories with economic, political, literary, and culinary history into a rich and heroic tale.

Among the Basques' greatest accomplishments:

Exploration — the first man to circumnavigate the globe, Juan Sebastian de Elcano, was a Basque and the Basques were the second Europeans, after the Vikings, in North America

Gastronomy and agriculture — they were the first Europeans to eat corn and chili peppers and cultivate tobacco, and were among the first to use chocolate

Religion — Ignatius Loyola, a Basque, founded the Jesuit religious order

Business and politics — they introduced capitalism and modern commercial banking to southern Europe

Recreation — they invented beach resorts, jai alai, and racing regattas, and were the first Europeans to play sports with balls

Review:

"A delectable portrait of an uncanny, indomitable nation." Newsday

Review:

"Part history, part travelog, part contemporary journalism, The Basque History of the World traces the Basque story from its ancient origins to the immediate present. Enriching the text with old photographs, maps, excerpts from Basque literature, and even several recipes, Kurlansky provides rare insight into this mysterious 'nation without a country.' This fascinating and very readable book should interest scholars and informed lay readers alike." Library Journal

Review:

"As he did in Cod, Kurlansky fuses political and economic history with delightful digressions into cultural and culinary traditions (several delicious recipes are included). For all the ground it covers, this wildly informative work is a marvel of clarity, glittering with unusual facts and marked by penetrating insights into a people always 'making complex choices about the degree of independence that was needed to preserve their way of life, while looking to the rest of the world for commercial opportunities to ensure their prosperity.'" Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

Review:

Entertaining and instructive, [Kurlansky's] approach is unorthodox, mixing history with anecdotes, poems with recipes. The New York Times Book Review

Review:

Synopsis:

The Basque History of the World is the illuminating story of an ancient and enigmatic people. Signs of their civilization existed well before the arrival of the Romans in 218 B.C., and though theories abound, no one has ever been able to determine their origins. Their ancient tongue, Euskera, is equally mysterious: It is the oldest living European language, and is related to no other language on Earth. Yet despite their obscure origins and small numbers (2.4 million people today), the Basques have had a profound impact on Europe and the world for more than 2,000 years. Never seeking more land, they have nonetheless fiercely defended their own against invaders ranging from the Celts and Visigoths to Napoleon and Franco. They have always been a paradoxical blend of inbred tradition and worldly ambition, preserving their indigenous legal code, cuisine, literature — even their own hat and shoe — while at the same time striving immodestly to be leaders in the world.

Synopsis:

From the author of Cod comes the illuminating story of an ancient and enigmatic people. Kurlansky's passion for the Basque people and his exuberant eye for detail shine through this fascinating book which blends human stories with economic, literary, and culinary history into a rich and heroic tale. Maps, photos & drawings.

Synopsis:

From Mark Kurlansky, the bestselling author of Cod, Salt, and Birdseye—the illuminating story of an ancient and enigmatic people

Straddling a small corner of Spain and France in a land that is marked on no maps except their own, the Basques are a puzzling contradiction—they are Europe's oldest nation without ever having been a country. No one has ever been able to determine their origins, and even the Basques' language, Euskera—the most ancient in Europe—is related to none other on earth. For centuries, their influence has been felt in nearly every realm, from religion to sports to commerce. Even today, the Basques are enjoying what may be the most important cultural renaissance in their long existence.

Mark Kurlansky's passion for the Basque people and his exuberant eye for detail shine throughout this fascinating book. Like Cod, The Basque History of the World, blends human stories with economic, political, literary, and culinary history into a rich and heroic tale.

Among the Basques' greatest accomplishments:

Exploration—the first man to circumnavigate the globe, Juan Sebastian de Elcano, was a Basque and the Basques were the second Europeans, after the Vikings, in North America

Gastronomy and agriculture—they were the first Europeans to eat corn and chili peppers and cultivate tobacco, and were among the first to use chocolate

Religion—Ignatius Loyola, a Basque, founded the Jesuit religious order

Business and politics—they introduced capitalism and modern commercial banking to southern Europe

Recreation—they invented beach resorts, jai alai, and racing regattas, and were the first Europeans to play sports with balls

“A delectable portrait of an uncanny, indomitable nation.” –Newsday

“Exciting, Illuminating, and thought provoking.” –The Boston Globe

Entertaining and instructive… [Kurlansky’s] approach is unorthodox, mixing history with anecdotes, poems with recipes.” –The New York Times Book Review

Synopsis:

From the author of Cod&#8212;the illuminating story of an ancient and enigmatic people

Straddling a small corner of Spain and France in a land that is marked on no maps except their own, the Basques are a puzzling contradiction&#8212;they are Europe's oldest nation without ever having been a country. No one has ever been able to determine their origins, and even the Basques' language, Euskera&#8212;the most ancient in Europe&#8212;is related to none other on earth. For centuries, their influence has been felt in nearly every realm, from religion to sports to commerce. Even today, the Basques are enjoying what may be the most important cultural renaissance in their long existence.

Mark Kurlansky's passion for the Basque people and his exuberant eye for detail shine throughout this fascinating book. Like Cod, The Basque History of the World blends human stories with economic, political, literary, and culinary history into a rich and heroic tale.

Among the Basques' greatest accomplishments:

Exploration&#8212;the first man to circumnavigate the globe, Juan Sebastian de Elcano, was a Basque and the Basques were the second Europeans, after the Vikings, in North America

Gastronomy and agriculture&#8212;they were the first Europeans to eat corn and chili peppers and cultivate tobacco, and were among the first to use chocolate

Religion&#8212;Ignatius Loyola, a Basque, founded the Jesuit religious order

Business and politics&#8212;they introduced capitalism and modern commercial banking to southern Europe

Recreation&#8212;they invented beach resorts, jai alai, and racing regattas, and were the first Europeans to play sports with balls

About the Author

Mark Kurlansky is the New York Times bestselling author of many books, including The Food of a Younger Land, Cod: A Biography of the Fish That Changed the World; Salt: A World History; 1968: The Year That Rocked the World; and The Big Oyster: History on the Half Shell. He lives in New York City.

What Our Readers Are Saying

Average customer rating based on 4 comments:

lukas, April 6, 2015 (view all comments by lukas)
"You will win, because you have more than enough brute force. But you will no convince."-Basque author Miguel de Unamuno, during the Spanish Civil War
The author of "Cod" and "Salt" brings his wide-ranging interests and lively writing to the subject of the Basque people. Living in a tiny region wedged between France and Spain, the Basques may be Europe's oldest culture and their language, Euskera, is unique. They excelled at fishing, whaling, iron mining, berets, and preserving their cultural independence amidst hostile forces, as well as their neighbors who have never quite understood them. Kurlanksy covers hundred of years of history, including the bombing of Guernia, which inspired one of the most famous artworks of the 20th century, the Franco years, and the emergence of the violent ETA group. If you've read anything else by him, you know he likes food and so Basque cuisine comes up frequently. An engaging and informative book about a fascinating people. Also, they invented Jai Alai.

Sarah Foutts, August 5, 2012 (view all comments by Sarah Foutts)
You only hear whisperings of these amazingly fascinating and deeply marginalized people found at the top of Spain and bottom of France. I found myself blown away by the writers overwhelming respect for these impactful people whom do not receive nearly enough credit for their historic cultural influence. I share all that I have learned with anyone willing to listen. If you want to know more about the Basque people, aside from commercial media's allogations of terrorism, then pick up this book and be amazed. It is a must read for anyone who is intrigued by the origins of human culture and its historical relevance. An insightful look into the Basque heritage free of influence by government or corporate interests.

Carrie Laben, June 17, 2012 (view all comments by Carrie Laben)
A strong entry from Kurlansky, who uses an obscure subject and an unconventional structure to create a book that is satisfyingly focused while still communicating a vast amount of information on topics from cod fishing to the Spanish Civil War.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No(0 of 1 readers found this comment helpful)

"Review"
by Library Journal,
"Part history, part travelog, part contemporary journalism, The Basque History of the World traces the Basque story from its ancient origins to the immediate present. Enriching the text with old photographs, maps, excerpts from Basque literature, and even several recipes, Kurlansky provides rare insight into this mysterious 'nation without a country.' This fascinating and very readable book should interest scholars and informed lay readers alike."

"Review"
by Publishers Weekly, Starred Review,
"As he did in Cod, Kurlansky fuses political and economic history with delightful digressions into cultural and culinary traditions (several delicious recipes are included). For all the ground it covers, this wildly informative work is a marvel of clarity, glittering with unusual facts and marked by penetrating insights into a people always 'making complex choices about the degree of independence that was needed to preserve their way of life, while looking to the rest of the world for commercial opportunities to ensure their prosperity.'"

"Review"
by The New York Times Book Review,
Entertaining and instructive, [Kurlansky's] approach is unorthodox, mixing history with anecdotes, poems with recipes.

"Synopsis"
by farley@powells,
The Basque History of the World is the illuminating story of an ancient and enigmatic people. Signs of their civilization existed well before the arrival of the Romans in 218 B.C., and though theories abound, no one has ever been able to determine their origins. Their ancient tongue, Euskera, is equally mysterious: It is the oldest living European language, and is related to no other language on Earth. Yet despite their obscure origins and small numbers (2.4 million people today), the Basques have had a profound impact on Europe and the world for more than 2,000 years. Never seeking more land, they have nonetheless fiercely defended their own against invaders ranging from the Celts and Visigoths to Napoleon and Franco. They have always been a paradoxical blend of inbred tradition and worldly ambition, preserving their indigenous legal code, cuisine, literature — even their own hat and shoe — while at the same time striving immodestly to be leaders in the world.

"Synopsis"
by Libri,
From the author of Cod comes the illuminating story of an ancient and enigmatic people. Kurlansky's passion for the Basque people and his exuberant eye for detail shine through this fascinating book which blends human stories with economic, literary, and culinary history into a rich and heroic tale. Maps, photos & drawings.

"Synopsis"
by Penguin,

From Mark Kurlansky, the bestselling author of Cod, Salt, and Birdseye—the illuminating story of an ancient and enigmatic people

Straddling a small corner of Spain and France in a land that is marked on no maps except their own, the Basques are a puzzling contradiction—they are Europe's oldest nation without ever having been a country. No one has ever been able to determine their origins, and even the Basques' language, Euskera—the most ancient in Europe—is related to none other on earth. For centuries, their influence has been felt in nearly every realm, from religion to sports to commerce. Even today, the Basques are enjoying what may be the most important cultural renaissance in their long existence.

Mark Kurlansky's passion for the Basque people and his exuberant eye for detail shine throughout this fascinating book. Like Cod, The Basque History of the World, blends human stories with economic, political, literary, and culinary history into a rich and heroic tale.

Among the Basques' greatest accomplishments:

Exploration—the first man to circumnavigate the globe, Juan Sebastian de Elcano, was a Basque and the Basques were the second Europeans, after the Vikings, in North America

Gastronomy and agriculture—they were the first Europeans to eat corn and chili peppers and cultivate tobacco, and were among the first to use chocolate

Religion—Ignatius Loyola, a Basque, founded the Jesuit religious order

Business and politics—they introduced capitalism and modern commercial banking to southern Europe

Recreation—they invented beach resorts, jai alai, and racing regattas, and were the first Europeans to play sports with balls

“A delectable portrait of an uncanny, indomitable nation.” –Newsday

“Exciting, Illuminating, and thought provoking.” –The Boston Globe

Entertaining and instructive… [Kurlansky’s] approach is unorthodox, mixing history with anecdotes, poems with recipes.” –The New York Times Book Review

"Synopsis"
by Penguin,

From the author of Cod&#8212;the illuminating story of an ancient and enigmatic people

Straddling a small corner of Spain and France in a land that is marked on no maps except their own, the Basques are a puzzling contradiction&#8212;they are Europe's oldest nation without ever having been a country. No one has ever been able to determine their origins, and even the Basques' language, Euskera&#8212;the most ancient in Europe&#8212;is related to none other on earth. For centuries, their influence has been felt in nearly every realm, from religion to sports to commerce. Even today, the Basques are enjoying what may be the most important cultural renaissance in their long existence.

Mark Kurlansky's passion for the Basque people and his exuberant eye for detail shine throughout this fascinating book. Like Cod, The Basque History of the World blends human stories with economic, political, literary, and culinary history into a rich and heroic tale.

Among the Basques' greatest accomplishments:

Exploration&#8212;the first man to circumnavigate the globe, Juan Sebastian de Elcano, was a Basque and the Basques were the second Europeans, after the Vikings, in North America

Gastronomy and agriculture&#8212;they were the first Europeans to eat corn and chili peppers and cultivate tobacco, and were among the first to use chocolate

Religion&#8212;Ignatius Loyola, a Basque, founded the Jesuit religious order

Business and politics&#8212;they introduced capitalism and modern commercial banking to southern Europe

Recreation&#8212;they invented beach resorts, jai alai, and racing regattas, and were the first Europeans to play sports with balls

Powell's City of Books is an independent bookstore in Portland, Oregon, that fills a whole city block with more than a million new, used, and out of print books. Shop those shelves — plus literally millions more books, DVDs, and gifts — here at Powells.com.